Attachment for hand cutting torches



Sept. 22, 1942. NICOLA] 2,296,480

ATTACHMENT FOR HAND CUTTING TORCHES v Filed April 15,1941

INVENTOR, THEODORE R. N/COLAI.

' A TTORNEY Patented Sept. 22, 1942 ATTACHMENT FOR HAND CUTTING TORCHESTheodore R. Nicolai, Vallejo, Calif. Ap lication April 15, 1941, SerialN0. 388,605

' 6 Claims. (Cl..266-23) The present invention relates t improvements inan attachment for a hand cutting torch, and has particular reference toan attachment facilitating the cutting of circular holes in, metalplates by means of a-conventio'nal hand-operated cutting torch.

Cutting torches of this type usually consist of an elongated handlehaving two conduits or pipes projecting therefrom longitudinally andterminating in a head or elbow carrying the torch tip, which'is arrangedat a right angle to the handle and the pipes.

It is proposed in the present invention to provide a guide structurethat may be readily attached to the head or elbow for guiding the tipalong a circular path,

It is a further object of my invention to provide a guide attachment ofthe character described that may be quicklyv attached and detached, thatmay be conveniently carried by the operator in his pocket, when not inuse, and that will not prevent other cutting operations, even when leftin position,

It is further proposed to provide an attachmerit of the characterdescribed that is relatively simple in construction, economic in cost,and that, when applied to an ordinary free-hand cutting torch, willallow the latter to perform precision operation for which, at thepresent time, only much more expensive tools are available.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will appear as thespecification proceeds, and the novel features of the same will be fullyset forth in the claims hereto appended.

The preferred form of my invention is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing, forming part of this application, in which:

Figure 1 shows a vertical section through my guide attachment as appliedto the head or elbow of a hand-operated cutting torch; and

Figure 2, a top plan view of the same.

While I have shown only the preferred form of my invention, I wish tohave it understood that various changes or modifications may bev madewithin the scope of the claims hereto attached, without departing fromthe spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the extreme end of a conventionalcutting torch is indicated at las comprising two pipes 2 projecting, attheir rear ends, from a handle, not shown, and as terminating, at theirfront ends, in a head or elbow 3 carryin the tip 4 in rectangularrelation to the pipes 2.

My attachment comprises in its principal fea- 'tures, a sleeve 5 havingmeans -for-fastening the same upon the head in concentric relation tothe tip 4, a bushing 6 revolvable on the sleeve, and having a radius rod1 projecting therefrom, and a centering member! adjustably fastened uponthe radius rod.

The sleeve 5 is made of a diameter considerably in excess of that of theelbow and may be guided from below over the tipjand the vertical sectionon the elbow to come to rest against the horizontal section of thelatter, a small cut-out being provided, as at 9, to fit underneath thehorizontal section of the elbow and to keep the sleeve free from thetorch tube. a

A yoke strap ill is pivoted to opposite sides of the sleeve 5, as at it,and may be swung over the back of the head or elbow 3 and secured inposition'by means of a set screw i2.

\ The sleeve 5 is provided, at, its bottom end, with an internal flangeor shoulder i3 leaving a central hole it of a diameter in excess of thatof the largest outside diameter tip adapted to be used in connectionwith standard torches.

I To make the attachment adaptable for different sizes of tips, I use aspecial adapter ring i5 seated in an annular recess iii in the flangei3,

the ring being dimensioned internally to have a sliding fit with the tip4. For difierent diameters of tips, different adapter rings may be usedin terchangeably, all rings having the same outside diameter.

The yoke strap i0 is dimensioned so that the adapter ring may be drawntightly upon the nut l6 forming part of the head assembly, by operationof the set screw l2,-thus truing, squaring and making concentric therotating mechanism.

The bushing 6 is revolvably mounted upon a recessed section ll of thesleeve, andis held against upward movement by a shoulder 18 of thesleeve, and against downward movement by a ring l9 secured upon thebottom face of the flange I3 by means of screws 20, the ring project- Iing outwardly sufficiently far to form a bottom bearing for the bushing6.

The radius rod or arm 1 projects from the bushing 6 in radial direction,and carries a clamp 2| having depending lips 22 adapted to be tightenedupon one another by means'of a bolt 23 and a knurled nut 24 for holdingthe clampin position on the rod.

The head 25 of the bolt carries thecenterin pin 8, which extendstransversely therethrough. Any suitable friction means, not shown in thedrawing, may be used for holding the centering

